Photo courtesy of Eddie Mitchell

He appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court today (June 29) and was disqualified from keeping animals until further notice. He was also sentenced to a 10-week custodial sentence, suspended for one year; a 20-day rehabilitation order; and made to pay £425 costs.

The RSPCA said that both Wilson and his wife Carrone Jane Wilson, 49, had previously pleaded guilty to failing to protect the kitten from pain, suffering, injury and disease by not exercising reasonable care and supervision, resulting in him receiving non-accidental injuries. On Wednesday, 15 June, Carrone Jane Wilson was sentenced in her absence to a 12 month conditional discharge, and £200 costs.

A statement from the charity said: “The RSPCA was called in on 23 December last year about the little ginger kitten who had been found with injuries to his head and abdomen.

“Tiny Tim had been taken to a local vets where sadly he was found to be so badly affected by his injuries that he had to be put to sleep to prevent further suffering.

“A pathology and veterinary report showed that the kitten had suffered non-accidental injuries described as ‘blunt force injury’.”

RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley said: “A vet said that there had been intentional injuries to this tiny little animal which would have required ‘significant external force’ to cause the damage they did.

“They said this was likely to have happened hours before his death.

“These injuries led to the premature death of a this very young animal - whose life was just too short. It is incredibly sad.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.